The 2001 Census of Population and Housing collected employment data relating to the job in which a person worked the most hours during the week before the Census.

A total of 43,388 people were employed in the printing and/or publishing of newspapers, periodicals and books. A further 41,742 people were employed in the wholesaling and/or retailing of books, newspapers, magazines and stationery.

Almost 45% of those working in the printing/publishing sector of the industry were employed in a 'cultural' occupation, compared with only 2% of those employed in the wholesaling and retailing sector. The most common 'cultural' occupations recorded were Print journalists ( 4,817 people employed), Printing tradespersons (4,630) and Editors (2,586). Of the 'other' occupations recorded for this industry, Sales assistants (15,136) and Shop managers (9,724) were the most common.

ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001, data available on request.

Book Publishers Survey

More recently, the 2003-04 ABS Book Publishers Survey reported that there were 5,300 people employed by the 244 businesses involved in book publishing, which was virtually the same as the previous year.

11.6 Book publishers(a), Employment - 2002-03 to 2003-04

2002-03

2003-04

no.

no.

Males

1 784

1 848

Females

3 556

3 452

Persons

5 341

5 300

(a) 'Book publishers' includes only businesses for which the predominant activity is book publishing. 'Other major contributors' includes only the book publishing employment of businesses for which the predominant activity is not book publishing, but book publishing income is $2m or more.

ABS, Book Publishers, 2003-04 (cat. no. 1363.0)

Book Retailers Survey

The 2003-04 ABS Book Retailers Survey showed that there were 8,717 people employed in the 561 businesses predominantly involved in book retailing. The largest increase in employment in this sector occurred between 2002-03 and 2003-04 (19%), with numbers increasing by 4% between 2001-02 and 2002-03.

11.7 Bookshops(a), Employment - 2001-02 to 2003-04

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

no.

no.

no.

Males

2 398

2 383

2 855

Females

4 685

4 953

5 862

Persons

7 083

7 336

8 717

(a) Includes only those businesses which are classified according to the ANZSIC as Newspaper, book and stationery retailing and for which the value of new book sales comprises at least 50% of all retail sales.

ABS, Book Retailers, Australia, 2003-04 (cat. no. 1371.0)

Work Survey

Additional information on people's involvement in Literature and print media was also collected in the ABS 2004 Survey of Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities.

According to this survey, some 556,500 people contributed their writing skills in the 12 months before interview, with 36% of these receiving some payment for their contributions.

A further 162,200 people had a work involvement in publishing in the 12 months before interview, with just over one-half (52%) receiving some payment for their efforts.